Trinity and Creation: Exegesis, Theology and Spiriuality from the Abbey of St. Victor

by Hugh of Saint-Victor, Dale M. Coulter (Translator), Richard of Saint Victor

The Trinity and Creation are central themes in the theology of the Augustinian Canons of the Abbey of St. Victor during the twelfth century, when it flourished. In this volume, for the first time three of the most important Victorine theological works are introduced in complete English translations: On the Three Days, by Hugh of St. Victor; Hugh's Sentences on Divinity; On the Trinity, by Richard of St. Victor. This volume also includes two of Adam of St. Victor's sequences in praise of the Trinity.

Genres: Christianity, Theology

428 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2011

About the author

Hugh of Saint-Victor, also called Hugo of Saint-Victor was an eminent scholastic theologian who began the tradition of mysticism that made the school of Saint-Victor, Paris, famous throughout the 12th century.

Of noble birth, Hugh joined the Augustinian canons at the monastery of Hamersleben, near Halberstadt (now in Germany). He went to Paris (c. 1115) with his uncle, Archdeacon Reinhard of Halberstadt, and settled at Saint-Victor Abbey. From 1133 until his death, the school of Saint-Victor flourished under Hugh’s guidance.

His mystical treatises were strongly influenced by Bishop St. Augustine of Hippo, whose practical teachings on contemplative life Hugh blended with the theoretical writings of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite. Hugh’s somewhat innovative style of exegesis made an important contribution to the development of natural theology: he based his arguments for God’s existence on external and internal experience and added a teleological proof originating from the facts of experience.

Reviews

[Rex · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the time being, I am leaving Richard of St Victor's On the Trinity to be read at a future date, probably after whenever I get to St Augustine's work of the same name. But the texts from Hugh, especially On the Three Days, are stellar, and the editors have done an excellent job.

[Erick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was very good collection of writings from the Victorine theologians. Hugh and Richard are both great writers and their contribution to theology shouldn't be understated. Richard contributed much to the development of Trinitarian thought. Trinitarian theology is what I am studying right now and Richard's work on the Trinity was the main reason for me reading this book. He does build on the Trinitarian thought of Augustine but he makes some unique contributions. In some ways, I think he tackled the subject better than Augustine. Love is very important to Richard's discussion of the Trinity and that alone makes him a a worthwhile theologian to read.